refugium info

kwaters · 01/27/2007, 01:16 AM

Ok, I have had some time to process a bit of information, however the literature is so extensive, it would take me a year to get through it.

My basic understanding (correct me if wrong) is:

Water drains through gravity or siphon to a receiving tank, usually through some sort of medium ("sock with live rock"). That water is then processed by a Protein Skimmer and then into another chamber that produces "micro bubbles" (still unclear of this). The water is then circulated into the refugium tank that houses organisims that further the filtration process. This water is then pumped back into the tank. This eliminates UG's, canisters and box filters...

Questions:

Can the water be heated in this refugium or is another heat source needed in the main tank?

Are these available commercially?

How is the water directed on the back flow into the tank?

Can someone provide me with detailed instructions that include plumbing from the tank down and back up?

Funny...I was thinking UG and canister filter two weeks ago...research pays off.

Kris

lpkirby · 01/27/2007, 09:48 AM

Yes you can heat in your sump. I heat my water in the chamber before the Refug.
A great sitefor information is www.melevsreef.com he has all the info you will need to building one.

Hope this helps,
Leon

dcombs44 · 01/27/2007, 10:49 AM

You don't want to create microbubbles. They are created by the air mixing with the water from your overflow. You want to put difusers in your sump/fuge to help dissipate the microbubbles before the water returns to your display. There are hundreds of ways to plumb a sump, and various different types of overflows. You could drill your tank and go with a gravity overflow, a hang on back siphoned overflow, or an in tank corner overflow with a standpipe. There are of course other options, but those are some of the simpler ones. Take lpkirby's advise and visit melev's site www.melevsreef.com

01/27/2007, 01:16 AM	#1
kwaters Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Newberg, Oregon Posts: 364	refugium info Ok, I have had some time to process a bit of information, however the literature is so extensive, it would take me a year to get through it. My basic understanding (correct me if wrong) is: Water drains through gravity or siphon to a receiving tank, usually through some sort of medium ("sock with live rock"). That water is then processed by a Protein Skimmer and then into another chamber that produces "micro bubbles" (still unclear of this). The water is then circulated into the refugium tank that houses organisims that further the filtration process. This water is then pumped back into the tank. This eliminates UG's, canisters and box filters... Questions: Can the water be heated in this refugium or is another heat source needed in the main tank? Are these available commercially? How is the water directed on the back flow into the tank? Can someone provide me with detailed instructions that include plumbing from the tank down and back up? Funny...I was thinking UG and canister filter two weeks ago...research pays off. Kris __________________ Pacific North West Marine Aquarium Society (PNWMAS)-Secretary Kris Waters Current Tank Info: 110 gallon tall

01/27/2007, 10:49 AM	#3
dcombs44 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 2,913	You don't want to create microbubbles. They are created by the air mixing with the water from your overflow. You want to put difusers in your sump/fuge to help dissipate the microbubbles before the water returns to your display. There are hundreds of ways to plumb a sump, and various different types of overflows. You could drill your tank and go with a gravity overflow, a hang on back siphoned overflow, or an in tank corner overflow with a standpipe. There are of course other options, but those are some of the simpler ones. Take lpkirby's advise and visit melev's site www.melevsreef.com __________________ Current Setup: 10 Gallon Skimmerless Zoanthid Tank Lighting: Single 175 Watt Metal Halide (14,000 K Hamilton Lamp) Filtration: 10 gallon sump/refugium and Phosban Reactor Return: Mag Drive 700 Controller: ReefKeeper Lite (Basic Version) Circulation: TBD Age of System: Build is in Progress

01/27/2007, 09:48 AM	#2
lpkirby Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hempstead, TX Posts: 701	Yes you can heat in your sump. I heat my water in the chamber before the Refug. A great sitefor information is www.melevsreef.com he has all the info you will need to building one. Hope this helps, Leon